Choosing the best perennials for landscaping with flowers is not a cut and dry process. There are many variables that must be considered before planting. Planting choice should be determined after assessing the needs of the existing landscape and specific needs for the type and mature size of the perennial. The best perennials for a flower garden are those that have an adequate amount of sunlight for growing requirements, are not too bushy, bloom effectively, and don’t compete with plants already in place.
Choosing the best perennials for landscaping with flowers. Many perennials are best planted after the last frost if there is no chance of frost-free conditions in the area where they are desired. A quick pruning of the spent foliage will help it return to bloom in late spring to early summer. Well-drained soil and full sun are a prerequisite for this species to thrive. Landscaping with flowers in a southern region may require early spring bulbs or early growth perennials that are native to that area. One should check with a local nursery to determine which are the best perennials for their area.
Landscaping with perennials that bloom in the late summer or early fall would include shrubs, shrubbery, and ground covers. These flowers are native to most areas and do well in most areas of the United States. Some of the best plants to use as landscaping with flowers in the summer are those that have wide leaves and blooms like hostas, crocuses, daffodils, lavender, honeysuckle, and purple coneflower. Spring bulbs are also recommended for flower gardeners that prefer the late blooming types. There are some plants that are not native to the area but are extremely hardy and grow well in warm weather.
Hostas, begonias, blue star perennials, and creeping phlox are a few plants that can be used as a border or water by planting between two rows of posts or a small bed of begonias. Blue star perennials are an excellent choice for the front yard because they bloom all year, and their blue-green foliage makes them ideal to filter and shade. Perennial hedges are an excellent choice for the beginning landscape gardener as they can grow quickly. Some are annuals, while others live for up to 3 years.
Spring bulbs, such as peony, hosta, amaryllis, and phlox, are a good choice for the beginning gardener because they are easy to maintain. The colorful flowers of chrysanthemums, lupine, and the iris can be planted around the base of trees or shrubs in the fall and bloom in the late summer. These types of perennial plants are best for late season border planters.
A favorite of landscapers in the north is the annual sunflower. Sunflowers, which come in a range of colors, bloom in the late summer and early fall, extending over several feet. They are very easy to grow, and in the winter months they remain dormant, waiting to emerge in the spring. The sunflower is most useful if planted in an existing bedding area but can also be successfully planted directly in a paver filled with soil or in the middle of an existing grassy knoll. It will do well in either situation provided it is given the proper amount of morning sunshine and has a good location.
Planting Annuals and Perennials in the same areas will result in a better overall lawn in each zone. There are three separate zones: native, semi-native and exotic. You must determine which zones your lawn will fall into before planting.
The native hardy perennial weed is the stonecrop, a member of the rust plant family. The stonecrop is native to southern United States and parts of Central America, and like the clover, does not need fertilizer. This hardy perennial has a large selection of flowers including blue blossoms, red flowers, yellow blooms, white flowers, pink flowers, and a host of others. These varieties require full sun but do well in low-lying areas of turf.